This week, we're mapping some of the world's greatest train trips.

The Darjeeling Himalayan "Toy Train" may not look like much. But the haunting wail of this still-operating steam train echoes across some magnificent vistas en route to Siliguri-New Jalpaiguri, major transfer cities between India's state of West Bengal and its neighbors Nepal and Bangladesh.

The narrow-gauge route has weathered earthquakes and cyclones to garner the designation of UNESCO World Heritage Area along its 53 miles of track. Expect the trip to take seven to nine hours with frequent interruptions between the 800-plus bridges the train crosses en route; buy fragrant snacks on board or wait for a cup of extra-strong chai at one of the through stations.

Related Stories:
· An Indian-Born Man Reminisces About His Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Travels [IndiaTravelogue.com]
· Movie Set Travel: The Darjeeling Limited [Jaunted
· Rail travel: Toy train to Shimla [Telegraph]
· World's Best Train Trips coverage [Jaunted]]]> egw 2008-09-11T15:00:25-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/29/894/93986

Can't afford a trip to India to see the Taj Mahal? Don't worry: Now you can have a staycation and make the Taj Mahal in your own living room, thanks to the geniuses at LEGO.

Everybody's favorite building toy now comes in the biggest ever model kit with almost 6,000 pieces of LEGO and a plan to build a replica of the Taj Mahal. Clear a big space because the finished version comes out about three feet wide and two feet high, or .9 percent of the original height and width.

And make sure you take a long enough home vacation to finish your Indian odyssey--apparently it's so tricky that they're advising it only for over-14s, and it's only for "very experienced enthusiasts." Kind of like a trip to India, really.

Related Stories:
· Lego Launch Taj Mahal [Ananova]
· On Holiday with Lego Blocks [Jaunted]

[Photo: Ananova]
]]> amandak 2008-08-29T09:00:19-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/23/134521/909

This weekend, The New York Times sent back a report from a visit to Shillong, a city that the paper says is the "hub" of India's rock and roll scene. The Times describes the town as full of Bob Dylan singalongs and guitar circles, but it's not all peace, love and music.

The city is located in the northeastern corner of India, an area that the Shillong Times says is "under Islamist rebel threat." Militants from nearby Bangladesh are a growing presence in the region and they're not rock fans.]]> Hunter Walker 2008-06-23T14:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/17/121524/413

The New York Times today reports on an interesting trend in Mumbai where "hunger cafes" take drive-by donations for the starving. These restaurants serve cheap meals to the poor who sit in front and wait for passing motorists to give them the cash they need to eat.

The hunger cafes are clustered together on a street in the city's Muslim Mahim neighborhood. They serve rice and "yellow curried gruel" in both meaty and vegetarian varieties. A meal at one of the cafes costs about 25 cents.

According to the Times, this up close and personal style of charity is a part of Indian culture. The paper reports that "anonymous, checkbook-style charity has yet to catch on" in India. Mumbaikars apparently prefer what the Times describes as good old fashioned "feudal charity: making donations to those below you in your household chain of command."

Related Stories:
· In a Restaurant Row, Drive-Through Charity [NYT]
· India Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: NYT]]]> Hunter Walker 2008-06-17T12:45:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/27/92619/5760

Employees at a shrine in Thiruvananthapuram, India will no longer be forced to work in their underwear thanks to their local Human Rights Commission. The shrine workers collect donations of cash, precious metals and gems at a temple dedicated to Ayyappa, a local deity. But after a spate of thefts at the shrine five years ago, police officials and temple bigwigs began forcing the shrine staff to wear a uniform that consists of nothing but a cotton wrap around their waists.

Temple workers were also subjected to strip searches before going home each day to ensure that they weren't hiding cash in their underwear. Unsurprisingly, the staff found this treatment incredibly degrading and they complained to the local government.

After hearing the case, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission sided with a union representing the temple employees and ruled that they must be allowed to come to work fully clothed again. Officials at the shrine said they would agree to end strip searches and get rid of the skimpy theft-prevention "uniforms." Temple authorities are now thinking about installing surveillance cameras at the shrine--now that their staff will be wearing pants again.

Related Stories:
· Shrine Workers May Keep Their Underwear on [Reuters]
· India Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Reuters]]]> Hunter Walker 2008-05-27T10:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/22/95519/0319

After much delay, Bangalore's new international airport is set to open this Saturday. But while air traffic controllers have been busy training, the local government has been strangled by its own red tape, says The New York Times, leaving the city horrendously unprepared to deal with all the new traffic.

The roads and rail links that promised to connect the new hub--which is 21 miles outside of town--have yet to materialize. Even now, crews are scrambling to finish road-widening efforts, the Times reports. Meanwhile air traffic at the old HAL airport in the heart of Bangalore (also known as Bengaluru) has doubled in the past two years. With that airport slated to close and the population booming, India's "Silicon Valley" is looking to be more car-choked than ever.

We took a look at the shuttle schedule on the BLR Web site, which lists nine routes that seem to connect the airport to the city pretty well. Of course the routes won't matter if the roadways are so clogged that nobody wants to ride them. A small local air carrier is looking to capitalize on the situation by running a commuter helicopter service to the airport for $100 per ride. Sounds familiar!

Related Stories:
· Bengaluru International Airport [Official Site]
· An Indian Airport Hurries to Make First Flight [NYT]
· Bangalore Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: photoyogi]]]> benh 2008-05-22T16:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/3/27/84537/7200

Over at HotelChatter, they're always complaining about the lack of WiFi (especially of the free kind) in hotels around the world. Their problem is they haven't considered traveling across India by luxury train, where free internet access is part of the package. At least, that is, if you ride the Golden Chariot, a luxury tourist train which started running regularly between Bangalore, Mysore and Goa last week.

The Golden Chariot is really full of amenities: there's an on-board gym with exercise bikes, weights and a treadmill. You can even get ayurvedic spa and massage treatments. It's pretty exclusive, with room for just 88 passengers. A standard trip takes a week and costs almost $3,400, which is not in everyone's budget. But there's free WiFi. We love that. We'll even cross Russia again when they get WiFi on the Trans-Siberian.

Related Stories:
· Unique Combo of History and Luxury on Wheels [Economic Times]
· Golden Chariot Train [Official Site]
· Not A Real Trans-Siberian Trip [Jaunted]
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